Roberta Newbury

Present: Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Alberta
2013: Ph.D. Biology, University of British Columbia
2005: M.S. Biology, Eastern Illinois University
2001: B.S. Wildlife Biology, University of Montana

Research Interests

I focus on how behavioral plasticity among individuals ultimately
impacts the population dynamics of specialist and generalist species, with
emphasis on populations that live at the periphery of the species' geographic
distribution. I am fascinated by peripheral populations, as the individuals in
these populations often cope with extreme climatic and habitat conditions that
conspecifics at the center of the geographic range do not encounter.

For generalists in peripheral populations, morphological, phenotypic, and
behavioral adaptations allow individuals to survive in atypical environments. I
am intrigued by the role that plastic behavior in peripheral populations plays
in range expansion of species, particularly considering current rates of
landscape modification and climate change. In essence, we are creating
landscapes that favor plastic generalist species over specialist species,
leading to predictable range shifts.

Postdoctoral
Research

I am investigating the use of Automatic Recording
Units and camera trapping protocols to determine the distribution and abundance
of wildlife populations in the province. Currently, I am focusing my efforts on
developing individual based movement models from existing telemetry data to
determine the probability that camera arrays detect known individuals, and how
that information can be used to estimate occupancy of sites, species population
abundance, with the goal of making recommendations that improve the
effectiveness of camera trapping protocols.

Co-supervisor

Dr. Erin Bayne, Department of Biological Sciences,
University of Alberta